Nonprofit seeks support for summer programs for youth experiencing homelessness

Project Hawaiʻi is seeking additional support as its keiki summer camp and teen mentoring workshop provides youth experiencing homelessness across the island the opportunity to feel uplifted, inspired, and empowered beginning on Monday.

According to co-founder Magin Patrick, summer can often be the hardest and loneliest season of the year for youth experiencing homelessness. Without school in session, they often lack opportunities to socialize or have access to regular meals.

The keiki summer camp and teen mentoring program offer participants a lifeline to feel hopeful and worthy. From Monday, July 7 to Thursday, July 24, participants have access to:

• Hot meals every day
• Fresh clothes, hygiene supplies, and showers
• Loving mentors who listen and guide
• Safe spaces to play, learn, and be children
• Creative outlets such as art and cooking

“Instead of going to beach days or summer camp, our keiki often spend their days hiding from the heat in cars or tents, with no safe place to be a kid,” Patrick said. “Without programs like ours, these children would go through the summer hungry, unbathed, disconnected, and unseen.”

This year, keiki attending summer camp will be having fun with plans including:

• A day at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
• Reed’s Bay for swimming and lawn games
• The Mokupāpapa Discovery Center followed by rock climbing in downtown Hilo
• Onekahakaha Beach Park for another beach day

Project Hawaiʻi is seeking support for purchasing school supplies, clothing, and shoes for the upcoming school year, which they provide to kids every year after the camp. To donate monetarily, or to sponsor a child directly, visit the donation drive on the website.

While the camp allows keiki to experience childhood, the teen mentoring workshop is a four-week residency experience that provides youth the chance to gain the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty through community service, leadership programs, and cultural experiences.

“Our teen mentoring program equips youth with essential life, social, leadership, and guidance skills to help them succeed and become leaders of their own lives,” said co-founder Magin Patrick. “Part of that is offering workshops that are creative spaces providing healing, confidence, and life skills. Teens thrive from all kinds of workshops ranging from art therapy to cooking.”

These workshops are offered throughout the year, so if there are volunteers willing to share their skills with teens eager to learn and experience something new, please contact Project Hawaiʻi over email at projecthawaii@helpthehomelesskeiki.org.

However, Project Hawaiʻi has an urgent need for food, which is promised and provided to participants in the teen mentoring program. According to Patrick, they are searching for donations or volunteers willing to host a food drive for meal ingredients for the program from July 7 to July 24.

For the list of meals and items needed for the program, please visit a donation drive here. Monetary donations can also be made online.

On July 13, teens will host a car wash fundraiser at ʻOhana Fuels in Hilo to collect monetary donations as well as school supplies for the youth.

For those interested in making a long-lasting impact, there are opportunities to partner with Project Hawaiʻi and be part of the team supporting meal programs and educational initiatives.

“There is a way for every business or well-off individual to contribute,” Patrick said. “We can provide tools like custom donation pages with goal charts, QR codes, and inspiring stories to share. Together, we can empower Hawaiʻi’s homeless children to break the cycle of poverty and reach their full potential.”

To connect with Project Hawaiʻi to set up a fundraiser or choose a goal that is important, email projecthawaii@helpthehomelesskeiki.org. More links to donation and volunteer opportunities include:

• Donate a monetarily for a meal
• Sponsor a workshop or back-to-school items
• Volunteer for our family fun events or car wash
• Share our story with friends or local businesses

For more information, visit the Project Hawaiʻi website at helpthehomelesskeiki.org.